No-one expected that 2026 would begin with a Batman/Dragon Ball Z crossover, but that’s what just happened, as Bruce Wayne’s Dark Knight continues his quest through the multiverse.
Batman Encounters Goku and Vegeta In Surprise Cameo
In a newly released preview of DC K.O.: Knightfight #4 – from Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora, Tríona Tree Farrell and Tom Napolitano – Batman visits a future where his son Damian Wayne has taken over as Batman, wiping out crime and raising his new son Alfred.
In the preview, Bruce gets to bond with Alfred and enjoy the crime-free Gotham Damian has created. While watching TV together, Bruce and Alfred laugh over an image that will be instantly recognizable to Dragon Ball Z fans. The pallette-swapped image shows Goku and Vegeta in episode 274’s ‘Mind Trap,’ when they encounter a giant worm within the body of Super Buu.
Fans of Dragon Ball can now be assured that Batman himself shares their fandom. But is there more to this image than fans realize?
Is DC Setting Up an Actual Goku Appearance?
Knightfight is part of the larger DC K.O. event, which has included multiple nods to Dragon Ball. Not only was Superman shown in Yamcha’s iconic defeat pose, but art of him merging with Shazam includes the Potara earrings from the manga and anime. But does this mean Goku is about to cameo in the event?
The reason fans are asking this question is that DC K.O. already features some huge cameos. The upcoming DC K.O.: Boss Battle will pit DC icons against villains from other properties, with The Boys‘ Homelander, horror icon Annabelle, and non-DC comic heroines Vampirella and Red Sonja joining the tournament. If the event already has some unexpected cameos and keeps tributing Dragon Ball, isn’t it likely that Goku could also appear?
On the other hand, it’s likely that fans would know about such a cameo by now, with DC K.O. set to conclude on February 11. Likewise, Williamson and Mora have included Dragon Ball shout-outs in their work before – the recent Superman #28 included a poster of Goku in Clark Kent’s childhood bedroom.
At this point, it’s unlikely but not impossible that Goku will appear in the flesh during DC K.O. However, Dragon Ball fans can now irrefutably count Batman and Superman as fellow lovers of the franchise, and it’s hard to think of better company to be in.
DC K.O.: Knightfight #4 and DC K.O.: Boss Battle are both coming February 4 from DC Comics.
- Created By
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Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Alias
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Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
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Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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D.C.
